Whitefish hospital launches effort for 3-D technology
In an effort to get the whole picture when screening for breast cancer, North Valley Hospital is pulling together a team to find ways to afford a roughly $500,000 3-D mammography machine.
Alan Satterlee, the executive director for the North Valley Hospital Foundation, said it’s time to update the hospital’s machine — which was installed in 2008.
“It’s 2-D and about at the end of its life,” he said. “We want to replace it with 3-D so that women and even men who come to screenings here at North Valley have the best technology possible.”
That technology is called a Digital Breast Tomosynthesis. It uses a low-dose X-ray system and computer reconstructions to create 3-D images.
Satterlee said the entire picture provided by 3-D imaging helps doctors better identify cancer. The tool is already being used in places like Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
“Based on some of the work done in Kalispell, with this we could potentially identify six more diagnoses of cancer a year when comparing what’s been done in past with 2-D versus 3-D,” he said.
He said the hospital conducts roughly 2,500 mammograms a year.
The foundation is seeking volunteers to help organize special events in the community and the hospital, brainstorm fundraising strategies and find ways to thank donors.
Satterlee said he hopes the foundation secures the $500,000 by fall so that the equipment can be up and running by the end of the year.
He said he believes fundraising is strengthened by having a diverse group of people working together, like doctors, nonprofit staff and community members passionate about the project.
Satterlee said the team working to secure the equipment in Whitefish is particularly unique because it includes doctors from outside of North Valley Hospital.
Dr. Melissa Hulvat of the Bass Breast Center at Kalispell Regional Medical Center and Dr. Amanda Beer of Northwest Imaging in Kalispell are part of the team leading the effort.
“With this technology, I can save more lives from breast cancer while also reducing anxiety by bringing back fewer women for unnecessary extra tests,” Beer said.
Volunteers will begin meeting to brainstorm ideas this week, May 31 and will continue to meet every two weeks throughout the summer.
Satterlee said the foundation will work with each volunteer to find a focus that they’re excited about.
For more information, call Pam Ellis, North Valley Hospital Foundation Executive Assistant, at 406-863-3630 or Satterlee, North Valley Hospital Foundation Executive Director, at 406-863-3560 or email foundation@nvhosp.org.
Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.